With its numerous museums, historical attractions, food markets, and interesting culture, Japan’s second largest city is worth even a brief visit. From the bustling streets to the high-end shopping centers, from aquariums to gardens in the sky, Osaka will never fail to amaze you. If you’re planning a weekend in the city, here’s a helpful guide to make your memories of Osaka unforgettable.

On your first day, take the glass-covered elevator to the top floor of the Umeda Sky Building and marvel at the city’s panoramic views. From there, head to Ame-Mura, where you’ll experience contemporary Japanese culture at its best. Sit in one of the cafés and watch the young, hip, and trendy locals pass by.

From time to time, you’ll spot teenagers participating in cosplay, wearing colorful and unique outfits that will make you smile. With over 3,000 shops in this neighborhood, you might also be tempted to buy something for yourself.

When you first think of Japanese cuisine, sushi is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Tokyo is one of the best places in the world for an intense sushi #foodporn experience, mainly as a result of having the world’s largest fish market. We set out to discover some of the places to enjoy the best sushi in Tokyo and also stumbled on a few more obscure discoveries.

WHAT IS SUSHI?

Sushi is raw fish, sliced into small pieces and served on cooked vinegared rice. When it’s served without the rice it’s called sashimi. Sushi literally means, sour tasting in Japanese and comes from the old tradition of preserving raw fish by fermenting it by wrapping it in soured fermenting rice. The fish proteins are then broken down via the fermentation.

WHERE TO EAT THE BEST SUSHI IN TOKYO? – THE TSUKIJI FISH MARKET!

Tsukiji is famous for being the largest fish market in the world. Daily auctions start from 4am, drawing huge crowds. This is serious fish business. The most expensive fish (222kg of bluefin tuna) was sold here for $1.8m (155.4 million yen) on 5 January 2013.